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The devil’s detailsDJ Hell rebounds with the intricate,
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by JACK OATMON It’s been a decade since DJ Hell, aka Helmut Josef Geier, and his ilk sent underground club music careening into a tangent of trashy, flashy, witty nihilism and retro-futurism. As label head of International DeeJay Gigolo, the punk-techno crossover fad electroclash was Hell’s gift to the world. But despite his numerous accomplishments, few likely suspected that he might bounce back with a fresh, fascinating and masterfully realized record this late in the game. But, lo and behold, at 47, Hell has just produced what will surely be seen as a landmark among the year’s releases. The double disc, Teufelswerk, features one half arresting ambient experimentation and another half gradual, tantalizing, intelligent club tracks, all woven together by one of the decade’s truly visionary producers. Mirror: It’s been a while since NY Muscle. Why did you decide to release an album right now? DJ Hell: There was time to do it, you know. I don’t do an album every year. For me, it feels right every five years. So it was time to get in the studio and say something. M: And what are you saying? DJH: I say hello. I say I’m back, or I never left, or it’s not a comeback. I say this is my definition of modern house music in 2009 and I say this is maybe the best work I’ve ever done, so it feels good. M: So for you, it’s about looking forward rather than back? DJH: It’s everything. It’s also a reflection. It’s about what I am and where I come from and where I want to go. It’s a lot of answers to a lot of questions and I hope people will understand it and see something in my music. Because that album is personal and I put all my knowledge into it, from travelling the world and DJing for more than 30 years. M: What made you go with the Day and Night theme? DJH: It’s a double album and I wanted to split it into two sections. I wanted to jump into an area I’ve never touched because I don’t want to repeat myself with this album. But I also wanted to show the original Gigolo sound. The Day album is more of a cosmic, ambient side. It’s really one song by my understanding. It’s not separate songs, it goes from one into the other. The Night album is more a reflection of my DJing. There are a lot of stories in there. M: Yeah, it really does feel like it’s telling a particular story. What would you say that is? HJG: You can take it as a soundtrack to a movie that doesn’t exist. The music is done and now I have to do the movie. That’ll be a future project. I’d really like to get into the movie industry. M: What’s that movie about, for you? DJH: Eroticism. Music. Nightlife and fashion. Love. All that, but in a new, science fiction direction. Let’s call it a science fiction love story with music out of the Gigolo camp. M: Do you see that as sort of what we’re living through, with all the technology and change right now? DJH: It is, but not in a good way. I have to find a new perspective. I don’t like what the future looks like now, so I’m going to have to come up with a new vision, because this future isn’t really spectacular or positive. WITH MATEO MURPHY AND ROMEO |
